NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 130, 6 June 1927, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Term "Australasia."

The efforts being made to discourage the use of the word "Australasia" were referred to by M. Paul Serre at tho annual dinner of the Auckland Consular Corps on Thursday evening (states the "New Zealand Herald"). "Australasia" was a useful term to avoid repetition in English, and it should be remembered that repetition m ' other languages, French for example, was considered bad style. ' 'Australoceanica' would be a good substitute," added M. Serre, "but it is doubtful- if a 15-letter name would be accepted. It would be very difficult to coax Europeans and Americans'into abandoning a life-long habit and paving attention to a matter which, after all, concerns only New Zealanders." "Sop to Cerberus." The passage last year of the Family Allowances Bill is briefly discussed in the current issue of the "Public Service Journal," which states that the measure was enacted , no doubt more to honour Mr. Coatcs's electioneering promises than with any heart-whole intention of endeavouring to improve the economic condition of the worker on an average wage. "When the Bill first came before Parliament," the journal .states, 'the executive committee had high hopes of improvements being effected in the course of the various stages of the measure that would have resulted in benefits falling to the happy lot of many Public servants in the lower grades of the classification list. The Act, when it was finally placed on the Statute Book, afforded a clear indication that the measure was indeed a sop to Cerberus, and the hopes of the executive committee were scattered at a single blow far and wide. There appeared to bo no reason in the beginning way tho maximum salary or earnings of a family man should not be increased beyond £209 a year. The friends of the proposal confidently thought this maximum was more to test Parliamentary feeling than for any other purpose. Hopes wore entertained of the maximum being raised to an amount somewhere in the region of £300, and painful indeed were the sensations of those who had ardently desired the advent of the measure to realise before the Bill had progressed very far that the Government had no intention of benefiting anyone if they could possibly avoid doing so." ' ° Dominion's Future. "I did not come to New Zealand to find_ fault with the country, and my advice to its people is to pay no attention to tho remarks of those who do," said Dr. J. S. M'Lean Inglis, an English scientist and traveller, who with Mr. P. M. P. Martin, of Devonshire, has just concluded a seven months' sporting tour of the Dominion (writes a Thames correspondent). Although Dr. Inglis is a keen sportsman, the principal object of his visit to New Zealand was to gain first-hand knowledge of the problems of the Dominion, on which he intends to write a book on his return to England. Since coming to Now Zealand in October last year, Dr Inglis lias taken much interest in the development of the farm lands in tho Dominion. Asked to state his views on dairy control, Dr. Inglis said it was a many-sided question, in which the matter of price-fixation might bo regarded as an experiment of doubtful value. Ho was satisfied, howover that it would not bo long beforo tho industry was placed on a satisfactory basis at Home. He knew of no reason why Now Zealand; with it excellent type of farmer, should not ultimately produce tho bulk of tho esHcntial food of tho British Isles. Dr. Inglis strongly emphasised tho recent remarks of the Trade Commissioner in regard to tho rearing of pigs on a largo scale in New Zealand. Considering tho large amount of biicon consumed yearly in the British Isles, ho said, there was a profitablo and permanent industry awaiting development to im oxtont not nearly realised by New Zealand farmers. In Lighter Vein. "I can't for the lifo of mo think why you asked mo to speak tonight," said Archbishop Julius, who was tho principal speaker at tho Canterbury Justices of the Peace Association on Friday (reports the "Pres3"). "I've never been a Justice of the Pcaco, and I'vo never been before one, but more by luck than by management, I daresay." His Grace was in entertaining mood, and in the course of his address raised many a laugh. "We have a Judge here," ho said, indicating Mr. Justice Adams, "and ho would liayo spoken a. great deal more to tho point than I—or wo could have got an inmate from Paparua, who would have known a great deal more about it. The fewer laws —repressivo laws—that we have, tho better, at least I think so. I know I always do when I'm driving a motor-car," he said later, and spoke of tho lack of consideration of man for man that existed in New Zealand, as compared with England. For instance, a motorist would see two cyclists standing talking in the middle of the load, thoir machines at right angles, so that nothing on earth could pass. "If it wasn't for fear of the Justices of the Peace," ho confessed, "I'd have run them down time after time, but I didn'l dare." New Railway Signals. The signalling system at the now railway yards at Auckland will bo the most extensive to bo installed in the Dominion (states the "New Zealand Herald"). It will le of the automatic three-colour type, and from one central box tho operator v/ill be ablo to trace the movements of trains on the interlocked sidings in the yard by means of an illuminated colour diagram. As soon as a train otters a siding a coloured lamp on the diagram will indicate that the siding is occupied. In "conformity with modern signalling practice there will be no necessity for the signalman to actually observe any train during his work. In fact, if the signal box were placed in the heart of tho station building the position would be as clear as though the box were in full view of the trains. In tho station yard there will be no fewer than 201 signal lamps. These will be operated automatically by electric track circuits, the illumination and extinction of the lights being dono by the movements of tho trains. Oh Thursday, Mr. E. Casey, divisional superintendent, said that the system that was to be installed was regarded in tho railway world as being the most effective and safest that could possibly be adopted. An auxiliary stand-by plant would be provided to keop tho system in operation in case of interruption in. the supply of power from the cite- " '"'•■.

The Soap Nut Tree. A tree the nut of which produces a soap with a fine lather and the kernel an oil which is said to be equal to olive oil for cooking purposes, has come into the possession of the curator of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens Mr. J. Young. Tho tree is"known" as a soap nut tree, or sapindus. It is indigenous to China, but is grown extensively in America, where its commercial properties are valued. From 21 seeds -.-Inch he received, Mr. Youn<» has raised 10 healthy-trees in pots. The sapindus comes into, bearing in six years, and grows to a height of 50ft The timber is suitable for furniture and the nut yield; is valued at from £2 to &i. Repaired at Last. The old blockhouse at Wallaeeville, which was erected in IS6O as a refuge against anticipated but unrealised attacks by Maoris, i 3 at last being repaired, and while the work of restoration may detract somewhat from its venerable appearance, it should preserve this link with the early days for many years to come. The need for repairing the old building was noted as far back as 1921, when the Early Settlers' Association brought the matter before tho Lands and Survey Department, and more recently in August 1926, by the Upper Hutt Borough Council, who offered to maintain and administer- the reserve if the Government spent £100 on putting the building and the surrounding acre of land in order This sum was placed on the 1926-27 Scenery Preservation Estimates, and the work is now being done by tho Public Works men, who expect to finish it to-day. The land has been fenced and a gate provided, roof, floors, window and door repaired, and tho walls twei W TTh creosote- "■ >s probable that the Upper Hutt Council's application to control the reserve will now be approved under section 13 of the Scenery Preservation Act. As the blockhouse is not easily visiblo from tho Alain road, very many motorists and others must pass by unaware of its presence, and it is to bo hoped that a sign post will bo erected by some interested authority to point the way to one oi the -few surviving reminders of perilous pioneering days.